Jakarta promises to be a good host

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja promised yesterday that the Indonesian capital will try to be a good host for the 14th National Games which open Monday.

Surjadi however pleaded to visitors, athletes and supporters, for their understanding if not everything goes according to plan.

"Shortcomings are common at events this large," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He pointed out that Jakarta has been given only three years to prepare instead of four because the Games had been brought forward one year owing to the general elections and the Southeast Asian Games next year.

Surjadi, who chairs the Games' organizing committee, said that there were bound to be problems once the Games got underway, such as athletes failing to arrive.

"Of course, we will try hard to eliminate this inconvenience," he said.

Meanwhile, from Semarang, it was reported that Central Java's badminton hopes have been dashed because its star, Ardy B. Wiranata has been sidelined on account of his Hepatitis A.

Soejoto, head of the Central Java chapter of the Badminton Association of Indonesia confirmed the bad news yesterday, saying that Ardy has been told to rest for three months.

A total of 4,915 athletes from 27 provinces will take part in the Games, which will be opened by President Soeharto on Monday.

Contingents from the regions are already arriving in Jakarta.

A total of 509 medals from 35 sports are at stake.

Three sports -- squash, bridge and chess -- will make their debuts at the Games, while motocross, rock-climbing, baseball, wushu and skating will be featured as exhibition events. (arf/har)